Full Breakdown
CFDA Chief Steven Kolb Placed on Leave After Physically Restraining PETA Protesters at COS Runway
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Incident at the COS Show
On September 13, 2026, Steven Kolb – president and chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) – intervened physically when People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) activists disrupted the COS runway during New York Fashion Week. Video footage captured at the WSA venue on 175 Water Street shows Kolb pulling a female protester to the floor, wrapping his leg around her, and covering her mouth, while a second activist was pushed against a window and also had his mouth covered. Models continued down the catwalk as the confrontation unfolded.
Background & Context
The CFDA, a not-for-profit trade association representing more than 300 American designers, announced a ban on animal fur for the 2026 NYFW season. The September protest targeted wool, citing a PETA investigation that alleged mistreatment of sheep on a South African farm supplying COS, a brand owned by H&M Group.
Timeline
- September 13, 2026 – PETA activists storm the COS runway; Kolb physically restrains two protesters; video spreads online.
- September 14, 2026 – The CFDA announces Kolb will be placed on leave pending a review.
- September 15, 2026 – Kolb issues an Instagram statement acknowledging his “inappropriate” reaction and declares a voluntary leave.
Official Statements & Responses
The CFDA said the matter is being taken “very seriously,” confirming Kolb’s leave and reiterating its commitment to “working with dissenting voices.”
PETA described the activists’ actions as an “assault,” announced plans to file a police report, and called on H&M Group and COS to ban wool.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I reacted inappropriately to an incident at a show earlier today,” — Steven Kolb
- “There is no justification for physically restraining another person. Security should have handled the situation, and I should have stepped back,” — Steven Kolb
- “Today’s actions show how top people in fashion use violence to silence people who expose how sheep are beaten, bloodied, and violently killed for scarves and sweaters,” — PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk
What’s Next
The CFDA has not set a timeline for its internal review, leaving Kolb’s future role uncertain. PETA’s legal team is preparing a police report and evaluating criminal charges while inviting Kolb to discuss wool-related concerns. The incident has intensified scrutiny of the fashion industry’s animal-welfare policies as the CFDA promotes its fur ban and faces pressure over wool sourcing.